NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT — The Iowa State University and University of Iowa ROTC cadets visited the Tama-Toledo area on Friday ahead of the annual Cy-Hawk football game at Kinnick Stadium Saturday. Stops included STC Elementary School, Sunny Hill Care Center and the Tama-Toledo Country Club.

A much anticipated tradition took place in the Tama-Toledo community last Friday, Sept. 6. ROTC Army cadets from both the University of Iowa and Iowa State held their 2024 ‘Game Ball Run’ across a handful of Iowa communities, and once again, Tama/Toledo was included. The cadets visited and showed off the game ball for the annual Iowa-Iowa State football game at three different local stops.

Dozens of cadets from both schools ran first to the STC Elementary School. Students lined the hallways as the cadets ran by, giving out high-fives and allowing students to touch the ball. Elementary School Principal Brad Schweppe spoke about what it means to have the cadets visit the school.

“We love having them visit our school each year because it helps our young students see their potential,” he said. “Whether it’s attending Iowa, Iowa State, or a trade school, it helps them cast a vision for some of their options.”

After their visit to the school, many of the cadets ran to the Tama-Toledo Country Club, where lunch was provided for them.

At the same time, about twenty of the cadets visited the Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama. There they greeted residents, many of whom were dressed in their favorite Iowa or Iowa State gear.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT

“It is very special to have the cadets with us today,” said Megan Thiessen, Administrator at Sunny Hill. “We love letting the residents be a part of something that is so special to our State.” Mary Jo Chervany is the Activities Director at Sunny Hill. She said it was the third year in a row that the cadets have paid them a visit.

“It seems to grow every year,” she said. “It means a lot to our residents to have them come. It helps them understand that they are just as important now as when they were younger and able to attend the Iowa-Iowa State game themselves.”

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT